19 News has just obtained never-before-seen video of a police officer shooting at a suspect who was accused of stealing a hat. The shooting took place on June 27, 2019 at Beachwood Place mall in Beachwood.
Our investigative team has learned that the officer who shot the suspect, Patrolman Blake Rogers, is still on paid leave more than a year after the shooting. Rogers was responding to the mall that day after it was reported that a suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Jaquan Jones, stole a hat worth $59 from Dillard’s.
In July 2019, the Beachwood (Ohio) Police Department released some footage of the incident, which was edited to remove audio of the shots being fired. Video showing the actual shooting was not released at that time.
Beachwood previously refused to release raw footage of the shooting to 19 News until our investigative team raised concerns that the city was improperly withholding public records. Rogers dash camera footage shows the suspect running from Beachwood Place mall and into the parking lot. “You better stop or I’m going to f*****g tase you!” the officer can be heard yelling as he pulls up to the suspect.
Rogers then gets out of his vehicle and can be seen pointing his weapon at the suspect who police say had jumped into a stolen vehicle. Video footage recorded by another responding officer’s dash camera shows Rogers as he fires two shots through the driver side window as the vehicle attempts to flee the parking lot.
An attorney for Jones confirmed he was hit twice by gunfire. Footage from Rogers’ dash camera shows two bullet holes in the driver’s side window as the car pulls away… 19 News